Plot: What’s it about?
After an intense uprising, the arena slaves have won some freedom, but they’re still pursued by the Romans. Spartacus (Liam McIntyre) and the slaves find themselves in control of a small city close to the waters, but this new home isn’t enough to keep the peace within their ranks. Crixus (Manu Bennett) has different ideas about what the group should be doing, which causes tension and seems likely to divide the slaves. As Crixus and Spartacus disagree over the course of action to take, Rome continues to strike back, under the command of Crassus (Simon Merrells). While Crassus seems to be winning some minor victories, he has to deal with conflicts within his own rank as well. As both sides attempt to win battles against each other and within their own people, can either side manage to actually claim victory in such a war of attrition?
This is final season of Spartacus, the fourth overall season if you count the Gods of the Arena prequel season. But does this blood soaked sword & sandal epic go out with blood and honor? The show manages to both ramp up the grand scale of the violence and also weave in much improved storytelling in this final run. I still wouldn’t call the plotlines remarkable, but the story works well and leads to a proper conclusion. The main improvement is that outside of the arena locales, the story and characters can widen and be a little more complex. But to be fair, I doubt the storylines or character development are what draw in most of the show’s fan, so yes, there is ample bloodshed and sexual content. Perhaps not quite as intense as earlier seasons, but there is plenty around and it is worked into the story a lot more in this final chapter. The violent set pieces are memorable and wince inducing in some cases, thanks to some impressive visual effects work. So Spartacus is indeed a proper farewell, in the over the top style that fans came to love, but also with a more potent story involved. So for fans of the show, this is the kind of end you wanted and this final season provides more than solid entertainment.
Video: How’s it look?
The episodes are presented in 1.78:1 widescreen. As expected, the show looks excellent here. The bold visuals really shine, with rich hues and terrific depth. This is the kind of show that really benefits from high definition, as the world is so layered with visuals to soak in. The detail is remarkable in most scenes and the colors look great, whether it is the deep reds or realistic earth tones. No issues with contrast either, as blacks are refined and consistent. This show just simply looks excellent.
Audio: How’s it sound?
The Dolby TrueHD 5.1 soundtrack is no slouch either, with robust presence throughout. The surrounds are used all the time here, even to enhance more mundane sequences. But when the battles rage into motion, that is when the audio is really able to show off. The action is boisterous and aggressive, just as you’d want and expect. The music sounds powerful as well, while dialogue is clear and well placed. This release also includes a Spanish language option, as well as subtitles in English and Spanish.
Supplements: What are the extras?
The extras include audio commentaries on select episodes, extended versions of some episodes, and a host of behind the scenes featurettes.
